Reputation" is the things you've done in the past. If you have a good reputation, people know you to be someone who does good things. If you have a bad reputation, people know you've been a troublemaker in the past. Usually people assume that, if you have a bad reputation, you are still a person who does bad things. (Interesting.)

So, by saying "Your reputation precedes you," you're saying "I heard what kind of person you were, even before you physically got here." It's usually a bad thing, since bad reputations are gossiped about (not good ones).

Reputation" is the things you've done in the past. If you have a good reputation, people know you to be someone who does good things. If you have a bad reputation, people know you've been a troublemaker in the past. Usually people assume that, if you have a bad reputation, you are still a person who does bad things. (Interesting.)

So, by saying "Your reputation precedes you," you're saying "I heard what kind of person you were, even before you physically got here." It's usually a bad thing, since bad reputations are gossiped about (not good ones).

Originally Posted by ragin1977

People have heard about you and your deeds your...ummmm reputation--the type of person you are, or appear to be. So, they've heard about you and know things about you before they've even met you.